Stray Cats - Touring Down Under

im going to the 1st sydney show on the 23rd, cant wait, by the looks on other car forums I will know everyone there.

 

When I saw 'em at Madison Square Garden about 20 years ago, one of the speakers alongside the stage burst into flames while Setzer was playing. Never seen that happen before or since. Stray Cat power, I figure.

 

gotta be one of the best shows in small arenas at a decent price
lookin around the audience i never knew old rodders had rhythm

 

I saw them In Kansas City a couple years ago. They played at this cool old ballroom downtown. Best show I've ever seen. Gary

 

I saw the at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham Alabama on their Rant n Rave Tour in the early 80's. It was an awesome venue to see them in, it is like a jumbo high school gym built in the early 20's with great acoustics. I saw them again last year opening for ZZ Top and The Pretenders in Nashville. They played a very good, but very short set. In my opinion those bands should've opened up for them. I also saw the BSO Christmas show at the Ryman in Nashville 2 years in a row, another awesome venue. My dream would be that maybe some promoter could line up a tour with The Reverend Horton Heat opening for the Stray Cats, then Brian playing with Mike Ness followed by Social Distortion.

 

Well just got home what a show The Living End were the support band they played some old and new and were tight. The Cats rocked I think they were better than last time and seemed to really have a good time, did two encores and brought Chris Cheney out for the second one. Played a good mix of songs but no Hotrod gang, man it was hot in there. Hope everyone has a good time, now if I could get some sleep big weekend at Ballarat swap to deal with. Oh and some guy wrote the front off my company car before we went lucky I didnt drive the roadster up the street. Night all!

 

I went to the Sunday night show in Freo as well. Had mates right up front next to Slim Jim, but I couldn't be stuffed with the whole mosh pit thing.

Stood maybe 50 feet away and from that distance, it doesn't look like your old man is playing up on stage!

They were great. I missed them last time they were in Perth because I was only just morphing from a bogan to a rockabilly and didn't get tickets.

Paintjobs on Setzer's guitars and the black and scalloped bass were amazing!

 

Yeah just got in fromt he Melb gig....great show. Was a hot as a *uck in there though...right Compact?

Setzer and the guys seemed more mellow than the last time I saw them; age has to be a factor. In all the gigs I saw them play on their 1990 tour....,man, they were EXPLOSIVE on stage...I mean, it was some high octane rockabilly and energy. Now they seem to be just happy to be on stage a soaking it all in for the last time....that's the feeling I got from tonite's show.

Hell last time they were here I was 25....now im goin on 42 arrgghhh....

Hung out at the venue for a while and actually got lucky to catch up with Slim Jim as he was leaving.....man is he a kool dude, autograph on the T shirt haha. Great guy !!

So, Im off to the Sat nite gig as well with just the boys, think I'll take my cam this time and see if I can get some decent pix.

Brootal....that stand up bass of Lee Rockers had a killer scallop job on it!! Oh and btw, your still a bogun !!

Rat

 

Brain became friends with Jimmy Barnes when he (Jimmy) was in the USA with his Working Class Man hit. The second last tour (before this one) The Stray Cats "supported" Jimmy as well as doing their own shows. In Perth in '90, Barnsey came on stage at the Stray Cats show in a drape coat that he'd borrowed from Brian and poorly applied hair grease that melted and ran into his eyes causing him a lot of "discomfort". Next tour was '91 or '92 and was to promote their then new Lets Go Faster album. Both tours they rocked the house down.

 

"The second last tour (before this one) The Stray Cats "supported" Jimmy as well as doing their own shows"

Yeah I went to that gig as well....as as soon as the Cats finished up, I left as Barnesy was coming on haha.

Rat

 

Hi Stovebolt. Do you remember what year you saw them at Dallas Brookes Hall? I was there but cant remember year - my blood sugar must be low?

 

awesome night! going again tonight. really, really need to get some sleep

 

Haha yeah.....but ya gotta tell Nooch to get his noggin outta the way next time....I spent half the time trying to see around it haha !!

Rat

 

I saw the Stray Cats here last time in the early 90's, then I saw them here this time. Great concert, the Satellites were their support, they got the place jumpin'.
It was good to see a lot of "youngsters" there who were'nt even born when the Stray Cats started out. Also good to see lot's of old farts (like me) who still got it .

 

Ok as promised a few pix from tonite's Melbourne gig....more to come from tomorrow nite's gig as well !!

Apologies as some are a tad dark.....hopefully they'll be better tomorrow nite.

Rat

 

What a Show!!!

 

Hey 59Kustom. You seem to know a lot about stray cats. Wondering if you know how many times / what years they have played in Australia. I saw them in the eighties (I think? ) at Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne Australia, but cant remember what year it was 1984/85 or 1988? Im hopeless. If you know , cool. If not, dont worry about it. Cheers Johnny Mac

 

Hey XL...

I think they played DB Hall in Melb in 88....then they were back here in 1990, and havent been back till now.

Rat

 

A heap of us went to the tennis centre in Melbourne during that tour and tried to leave when the Stray Cats finished. All the doors were locked and security didn't want to let us out. Saw them at the Palace and down in Moorabbin too after that. The Moorabbin show was unbelievable.

We went on Thursday night at the Forum. Great show. The guys were certainly more laid back this time around and so was I. Had a good comfy spot back behind the mixing desk. No more mosh pit for me

Pete

 

Goin to the Sydney show at the Enmore on monday, see how shadey i feel and i might just do some kind of lame ass review!

 

Saw at the Palace (RIP) and the Village Green on their Lets go Faster tour F@#$ Barnesy wouldnt go out of protest, and yes it was hot specially at the front. And the lack of sleep killed me at the swap, but I did get a cheap set of 28 coupe 1/4's to put together a steel roadster. Yes another project.

 

Setzer knows how to play that guitar!

-90% jimmy

 

Thanks for the photos. That's cool.

I think their playing in Minnesota for Brians birthday this spring. I guess he lives here.

 

CT he lives in the warehouse district... He has been know to hang out at the Toast wine bar.

 

I'll second that!

 

ill third that....one of the best
saw them 6-7 times in the 70s-80s

and 4 times with the orchestra

NEVER disappointed....

hope they tour here next

 

Certainly worth the wait! I went Thursday night, had a ball. Saw heaps of Gearheads. But f@#k it was hot in there!!!

 

I think it was earlier than 88, as I wasn't with the Mrs then - met her in 85.

Geez I hate it when the years catch you out.

 

Yep, he's playing in Minneapolis alright....it's his 50th birthday....tix are sold out--and going for $350 each on Craigslist! See ya there! heehee